The legendary Irish Bulldog is said to be the original "red-nosed bulldogge", a bearer of a physical characteristic that was influential in the creation of the famous Dudley Terrier and presently valued in some strains of the modern American Pit Bull Terrier, namely the so-called "Old Family Red Nose" bloodlines. A few attempts at re-creating the breed have been reported over the years, one of them being the American Olde Irish Bulldogge programme. However, although the red-nose variety was undeniably more popular, black-nosed dogs were just as common and it is unclear where the "Old Irish Red" name came from, with some speculating that it was originally a reference to a specific bloodline rather than the entire breed. Prized for its strength and resilience, the Irish Bulldogge is remembered as a muscular and athletic breed, having a head that was larger and somewhat rounder than the many local bull-n-terriers which it spawned, sporting a short, powerful muzzle with a very slight underbite and possessing a friendly and calm personality around humans, while being more than unfriendly towards other dogs.

Even though piebald, brindle and darker examples with white markings were also common, the breed's short glossy coat has always been most valued in solid fawn, red or brown shades. Average height was around 17 inches, but smaller dogs existed as well.